MOSCOW, Russia, (CMC)- Sprint King Usain Bolt has created history on the penultimate day of the 14th IAAF World Championships here at the luzhniki Stadium.
Bolt became the first man to win three 200m titles, adding to victories achieved in the previous editions – Berlin and Daegu.
Only American Calvin Smith in 1983 and 1987 and Michael Johnson in 1991 and 1995 won the 200m twice. Bolt, however, is the only man to take consecutive titles.
Bolt is also the first man to complete the sprint double twice. Bolt won the double in Berlin 2009, but false started in the Daegu 100m final. He regained his 100m title here last Saturday. Americans Justin Gatlin in 2005 and Tyson Gay in 2007 are the only other athletes to win the double once in their career.
In yesterday’s 200m final, Bolt, who last Sunday ran 9.77secs in the 100m, retained his 200m title in 19.66 seconds.
He was pushed to the line by teammate Warren Weir, who was second in 19.79secs, a personal best. American Curtis Mitchell got third in 20.04 while another Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade took fourth in 20.05.
Bolt, who ran from lane four, got off to a fairly good start and ran a very fast curve. He straightened before Weir and company and powered down the straight to take victory.
Bolt said he wasn’t worried and “I knew it wasn’t going to be hard” he also said “It’s my favourite event, so I am really happy for it.”
Weir, who said that he had answered his critics who claimed that his bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games was a fluke, added, “to get the bronze last year and the silver this year is a very good feeling.”
“This run feels better than last year’s because a lot of people wasn’t expecting anything from me, now they did and to deliver, makes it better for me”.
In the action packed 4x400m women’s relay final, United States led for the two laps, but Russia dominated the penultimate legs to take victory in a world leading 3:20.19.
USA finished second in a season best 3:20.41 and Great Britain and Northern Island third in3:22.61, also a season best.
The women’s 100m hurdles, which had its semi-finals just under two hours earlier, was also exciting with Brianna Rollins taking it in 12.44 over Australian Sally Pearson 12.50.
Earlier, Jamaicans Andrea Bliss 12.92, Shermaine Williams 12.93 and Danillle Williams 13.13, along with Trinidad & Tobago’s Aleesha Barber 13.52, dropped out at the semi-final stage.
St. Lucian high jumper Levern Spencer’s 1.89m clearance was only good enough for 11thin the final, which went to Russian Svetlana Shkolina, who cleared 2.03m.